Chapter 35: Standing Up For Yourself

A/N: Here's to the small amount of reviews for the last chapter. Lord, I didn't think that all of it would get uploaded.

To Viktor Krum's lazyllama 101: Ron being a werewolf is going to play a huge roll in the up and coming chapters.

To moonyluvur: I thought the idea of a Hufflepuff stripping party was pretty funny to write about. Also, we'll discover, through a new spy, the spell that Voldemort used.

To the Jersey Girl Next Door: Ron is the root of all evil. And to those that don't want it to happen. Apparently Ron and Hermione are going to get together in the final book. Rowling modeled Hermione after herself. Personally, I'm writing a book myself but I'm going to be under a pen name, and I would never put myself so fully into a book that I'm writing. Not only are you tempted to turn your character into a miserable person, but people are going to think that's just plain wrong.

To Everyone Else: Thanks for your review.

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The next morning was bright and sunny, one of the last few days of sunshine that anyone was going to see until next year. Hermione spent it going into Muggle London and buying what she needed for the Halloween party that was being held. She decided to be a little dirty and get a Red-Riding Hood costume. She snickered when she thought what the staff would think when they saw her. She paid for it and then went into the Wizarding world to pick up special Halloween decorations to scare the living daylights out of the students.

When Hermione returned she hid them and then headed back to the castle.

"Remus, Severus," Hermione called out when she entered the castle. "I hope that both of you are going to dress up."

Severus grumbled at her.

"Oh come on, this is going to be so cool!" Hermione said. "I've got loads surprises for the school and trust me when I tell you that I'm the fright queen."

"I hope you don't have some stupid Muggle idea cooked up," Severus hissed.

Hermione pretended to look hurt.

"Severus, now would I do something muggle?" Hermione said. "Now that's a bad thing to say. Of course, I'm sure that you're going to stay in your dungeons and hit yourself with iron or something."

Remus snickered.

"For your information, Mrs. Lupin, I'm planning on attending this stupid party because my wife is going to be there. Of course there is nothing that you can do that will scare the living daylights out of anyone. Your lot believes in stupid plastic tricks that other Muggles and Muggleborns fall for."

Hermione glared at him.

"Is that a challenge?" Hermione asked him.

He grinned at her.

"It sure is," he countered.

"Well then, bring it on," she said. "I bet I can scare the living daylights out of you and any student that comes my way."

"The same here," Severus said.

Hermione laughed.

"Oh this is going to be good."

And they left leaving Remus totally confused.

Madam Pomfrey was just about to leave when Mrs. Weasley woke up. Madam Pomfrey counted to ten and on the ten Mrs. Weasley broke out in a torrent of horrible words. Madam Pomfrey covered her ears and let her scream and yell all she wanted. Finally she got tired of hearing it.

"SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP," Madam Pomfrey screamed.

Mrs. Weasley fell silent.

"Good," she snapped, removing her hands. "Now you listen here, Molly. You're not going to do anything to Ginny, not as long as I'm here. Now you wait here and I'll get Ginny. And don't you dare do anything to cause her undue stress."

And she was gone.

Ginny was busy talking to Neville when Madam Pomfrey arrived. She knew this meant that her mother was awake and that she would have to face her. She told Neville that she would see him later and went with the Matron. Soon, every soon, she was facing her mother.

"Now I'll leave you both alone," she said. "Ginny, I'll be inside my office if you need me."

"Thanks."

"Ginny, I don't know what spell Snape has you under, but I'm not going to have you hurt and alone with a child that no one wants."

Ginny bit her lip so that she wouldn't curse her.

"Ginny, I care about you," Mrs. Weasley said. "And he's rotten to the core. I know because I was at school with him."

"And mum I know what I'm doing," Ginny said. "Things change from when you're at school to when you become an adult. I will not stand for you to turn me against him. I'm going to have this child and there's nothing that you can do to change my mind. So leave me and my husband alone."

"Ginny, you're not an adult here," she said. "You're still underage and that means that I get to decide what's right."

Ginny went red.

"And I'll fight you," Ginny counted. "Every step of the way."

And she turned and left.

The next morning a letter arrived for Hermione. She was figuring out what she was going to do to Severus to prove that she could scare the wits out of him. She took the letter and saw that it was from Neville.

Dear Hermione,

I and Lavender are leaving Hogwarts until the war is over. Please don't write back and don't tell anyone where we went. It's better this way.

Neville

Hermione wished them all the luck in the world.

Note: Boy this is turning into a strange story. Next chapter: Hermione gets Severus the first time, Severus gets Hermione back, and Harry gets caught in the middle.